Show ContentsWedge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Wedge is generally thought to have been originally Wegge or Wege. The name Wege was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. [1] "Wegga [is] a pet contraction of one of the Old Norse Uág- = Anglo-Saxon Wœg- names. This is a very ancient Teutonic name- element, a Wœgdœg, e.g., being given in the Anglo-Saxon genealogies as the name of a descendant of Woden." [2]

Another source claims the name is a nickname "probably connected with wag, to move from side to side, as in wag-tail." [3]

But another source agrees with the Anglo-Saxon origin, having derived from "waeg," meaning "way" and postulates that the name may be "the same name as Waga, which occurs in the genealogy of the Mercian kings." [4]

Early Origins of the Wedge family

The surname Wedge was first found in Somerset where John Wegge was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. A few years later, Robert Wegge was recorded in the the Feet of Fines for Surrey 1391-1392. [5] Willelmus Wege was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls for 1379. [2]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for John Wagge, Yorkshire; Robert Wagge, Lincolnshire; and Robert le Wag, Oxfordshire. [3]

Again in Somerset, entries for the family include: Robert atte Wagge; and Henry atte Wagge, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) [6]

Early History of the Wedge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wedge research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1607, 1720, 1792, 1824, 1827, 1828, 1847, 1849, 1852, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1865, 1872, 1910, 1911 and 1996 are included under the topic Early Wedge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wedge Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wegg, Wege, Wedge, Wegge, Wagg, Wagge and others.

Early Notables of the Wedge family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Helder Wedge (1792-1872), was an Australian colonial statesman, born in England in 1792. He arrived in Tasmania in 1827, having received an appointment in the survey department. In 1828 he was or...

Wedge Ranking

In the United States, the name Wedge is the 16,288th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [7]


United States Wedge migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wedge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Wedge, who arrived in Maryland in 1651-1662 [8]
  • Margaret Wedge, who landed in Virginia in 1653 [8]
  • Robert Wedge, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 [8]
  • Jane Wedge, who landed in Maryland in 1674 [8]
Wedge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Wedge, who landed in Virginia in 1717 [8]
Wedge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Wedge, aged 21, English settler who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1833 aboard the ship "Helen" [9]
  • Mr. George Wedge, aged 20, English settler who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1839 aboard the ship "Montreal" [9]
  • Mr. Nicholas Jane Wedge, aged 21, English settler who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1848 aboard the ship "Caleb Grimshaw" [9]
  • Miss Besty Wedge, aged 6, English settler who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1848 aboard the ship "Caleb Grimshaw" [9]
  • Francis Wedge, aged 23, English settler who arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1848 aboard the ship "Caleb Grimshaw" [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Wedge migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Wedge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Helder Wedge, (1793 - 1872), aged 31 arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in April 1824 aboard the ship "Heroine" [10]
  • Mr. Edward Wedge, brother to John Helder Wedge, arrived in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in April 1824 aboard the ship "Heroine" [10]
  • John Wedge, aged 36, Irish convict from Kings County, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • John Wedge, aged 35, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Emigrant" [12]
  • Mr. Wedge, who arrived aboard the shp "Albany" to Fremantle in 1898 [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Wedge Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Charles Wedge from England who arrived aboard the ship "Kalgoorlie" in Fremantle, Australia in 1901 [13]
  • Mr. C. E. Wedge, British farmer from Naples, who arrived aboard the ship "Bremen" from Germany to Fremantle, Australia in February 1905 [13]
  • Mrs. Wedge, British settler from Naples, who arrived aboard the ship "Bremen" from Germany to Fremantle, Australia in February 1905 [13]
  • Mr. H. Wedge, British settler who arrived aboard the ship "Bullarra" in Fremantle, Australia in 1905 [13]
  • Miss Alice Wedge, domestic servant who arrived aboard the shp "Oroya" to Fremantle in 1909 [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Wedge migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Wedge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Wedge, aged 37, a mason, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 [14]
  • Jane Wedge, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 [14]
  • Charles Wedge, aged 3, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 [14]

Contemporary Notables of the name Wedge (post 1700) +

  • Stanley E. Wedge (b. 1889), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Branch County, 1941-44 [15]
  • Jimmy Joe Wedge, American politician, Mayor of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, 1981-83 [15]
  • H. W. Wedge, American politician, Supervisor of Troy Township, Michigan, 1933 [15]
  • Edgar F. Wedge, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Litchfield, 1908 [15]
  • Ed. J. Wedge, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1946 [15]
  • Clarence Wedge, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Presidential Elector for Minnesota, 1908 [15]
  • A. C. Wedge, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 16th District, 1870-71; Member of Minnesota State Senate 5th District, 1879-81 [15]
  • John Helder Wedge (1792-1872), English-born colonial statesman who arrived in Tasmania in 1827, having received an appointment in the survey department [16]


The Wedge Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil conscire sibi
Motto Translation: Conscious of No Wrong.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Ellis Island Search retrieved 6th February 2023 from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  10. Trove papers Hobart Town Gazette Retrieved 6th February 2023. Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
  12. South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/emigrant1854.shtml
  13. National Archives of Australia Retrieved 6th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
  14. Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
  15. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  16. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 Jan. 2019


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